Sione Tuipulotu has been excluded from the British & Irish Lions squad for Saturday’s match against Australia, with Bundee Aki taking his place at inside centre and Owen Farrell named among the substitutes.
Andy Farrell has included nine Ireland players in the starting lineup, with Andrew Porter stepping in for Ellis Genge at loosehead prop. The only other change sees Ollie Chessum replace the injured Joe McCarthy as the Lions aim to secure the series in Melbourne. Garry Ringrose was initially selected but withdrew after training on Thursday.
Farrell, who led the team to a 24-19 win over the First Nations & Pasifika XV on Tuesday, is among the replacements alongside Jac Morgan, Blair Kinghorn, and James Ryan. If he features, Farrell will earn his first Test appearance since England’s third-place victory over Argentina in the 2023 World Cup. With six previous Lions Test caps, this would mark his 22nd outing for the touring side.
Tuipulotu’s absence is due to a tight hamstring, a setback after his strong performance in last week’s opening Test win in Brisbane. The Scotland centre, who grew up in Melbourne, will find the decision difficult to accept. Huw Jones retains his place following Ringrose’s concussion-related withdrawal earlier in the tour.
Genge may feel unfortunate to be demoted, but the substitutes struggled in Brisbane, and he will be expected to provide impact off the bench. Porter’s inclusion completes an all-Ireland and Leinster front row with Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong.
Chessum partners England captain Maro Itoje in the second row, while the back row—impressive last week—remains unchanged with Tadhg Beirne, Tom Curry, and Jack Conan. Aki’s inclusion is the only alteration to the backline, which includes Jamison Gibson-Park, Finn Russell, Jones, James Lowe, Tommy Freeman, and Hugo Keenan.
Farrell’s selection of nine Ireland players falls just short of the 10 Welshmen picked for the 2013 decider against Australia. Still, the head coach is relying heavily on players from his national squad, including seven Leinster representatives in the starting lineup.
Among the substitutes, Genge is joined by Ronan Kelleher and Will Stuart as front-row cover, while Ryan and Morgan are set for their Lions debuts. Ben Earl misses out, and Alex Mitchell maintains his record of being named in every matchday squad so far. Owen Farrell and Kinghorn’s inclusion means Marcus Smith drops out of the 23.
“We’re in a strong position after the first Test, but we expect a strong response from Australia,” said Farrell. “They showed their quality in Brisbane, and we know we must improve.”
Read next
"Brighton’s inclusivity sets stage for sold-out World Cup weekend"
Brighton Prepares for a Sporting Celebration Like No Other
While Villa Park will draw attention for England’s match against Andorra and Monza for the Italian Grand Prix, few events in global sports this weekend will rival the atmosphere in Brighton. The appeal isn’t just about entertainment or scheduled
"Anisimova clashes with Sabalenka and inner struggles in US Open finale"
Amanda Anisimova’s Resilience Shines Ahead of US Open Final
Amanda Anisimova struggled to keep her emotions in check in the days leading up to the season’s last major tournament. As the American prepared for her first-round match, the weight of her own expectations became a source of intense
"England vs Andorra WC qualifier preview, WSL discussion, and Football League updates – live coverage"
Key Moments
Much of England’s camp has revolved around discussions about the recently concluded transfer period. On Friday, the focus was on Dan Burn’s challenge against Alexander Isak.
Recent Matches
Denmark and Scotland played out a goalless draw in a match that was far from thrilling but still